“Young drivers are more at risk of getting into precarious situations,” said Nicky Dalkin, operations director for Jennings Motor Group. “Pressures on young people’s finances can mean skimping on essential servicing, care and maintenance. This can be dangerous, especially as their vehicles are likely to be older.”

Jennings Ford highlighted the need for owners of older vehicles to maintain services schedules as they would with a brand new car.

“We are aware that people run their cars to a budget and in the current climate that budget may have been trimmed,” said Nicky Dalkin. “JenningsFord offers free tyre inspections to our customers – and Ford has introduced its £99 Value Service for Ford vehicles over three years old to help ensure that customers don’t ‘slip the net’ and drive cars not fit for purpose.

“For just £99 Ford vehicles receive a service and inspection of all consumable items such as wiper blades, wiring, hoses and exhausts. It extends to the transmission, brakes and running gear and even includes details such as dashboard illumination.

Included in Ford’s £99 Value Service is up to one year of European Roadside Assistance cover. This is available until the end of 2009 and customers receive roadside assistance cover for either 12 months or until their next service (whichever occurs first).”

The Roadside Assistance cover applies to Ford vehicles less than nine years old and with less than 100,000 miles.

For national Road Safety Week, the AA researched its principal area of concern – tyres.

“The one component connected car to the road are its tyres and 45 per cent of UK motorists don’t know the minimum legal tread depth for tyres – which is a total of nearly 17 million people,” said Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety.

“To drive safely, you need the right tyres in good condition, as they affect the steering, breaking and acceleration of your vehicle – particularly at this time of year. On a wet road, worn tyres could mean needing up to 70 per cent more breaking distance.”

Latest figures show that 2 per cent of all fatal accidents were caused by illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres, which has brought about a crackdown on ensuring that tyres are compliant with the law.

“It is a legal requirement to ensure that the tread on your tyres has not worn below 1.6mm, that there is no mixing of radial or cross-ply tyres and that tyres are correctly inflated without any structural damage,” said Andrew Howard. “Any one of these faults not only endangers the driver, passengers and other road users, but can also incur substantial fines and points on your licence – all more reasons to check your tyres regularly.”

For more information about this promotion or other products and services available at Jennings Ford in Sunderland contact 0191 5491111, Gateshead on 0191 4607464, South Shields on 0191 4276666, Stockton on 01642 632200 or Middlesbrough on 01642 240055 or email enquiries@sjennings.com